Featured Domains

How .Realtor quickly became one of the most used new TLDs

About four weeks ago, the National Association of Realtors released the .realtor domain name. Ahead of the launch, I called it one of the most important launches in the nascent new top level domain name program.

.Realtor has quickly shot up to the #4 spot of new top level domain names with about 85,000 domain names in the zone file.

Much like #1 (.xyz) and #2 (.berlin), its success has a lot to do with giving domain names away for free. National Association of Realtors (NAR) is giving up to 500,000 addresses away for free for the first year; others cost $40.

But there are some key differences with .realtor, and why I think it has done a lot to move new TLDs forward as a whole.

First, although most of the registrations were free, Realtors had to actually register them and were limited to just one for free. This means that 80,000 people are now more aware of what’s right of the dot. In other words, they understand a bit more about what a new TLD is.

Second, .realtor has quickly become one of the most “used” top level domain names.

I spot checked a random group of 50 .realtor domain names in the zone file. 46% of them resolved to a website, including forwards. The rest were parked. That’s a pretty good number.

.Realtor achieved this by making it really simple to set up a starter site. Through a partnership with Realtor.com, agents could click a few buttons to set up a basic page with their contact info, bio, and listings. Here’s an example.

True websites? Maybe not. But it’s a step toward getting indexed. It’s also a web address that a Realtor could give to a client or put on their business card.

That moves new top level domain names forward…one impression at a time.

I always think providing only domain names to consumers is not enough. They want a website — now! Any registry or registrar must become a one-stop store which enables registrants to quickly set up a simple website. Make it useful first, then you can improve it later.

The companies they work with, also have internal services for quick internet placement of sites. I doubt many of these are stand alone sites, most have to be redirects. As well renewal rates are going to be interesting, and to see what is actually advertised on business cards, and news print going forward.

The top realtors always want to stand out, not be lumped in with the herd.

Not exactly 80,000 people but more like half that but nevertheless a very good performance by .realtor. And because it is not 80,000 people makes it even better for the registry as many got a free domain and a couple of paid variations.
Berkens thinks that 80k registrations are too low. I say it is doing great. And Rick agrees.

I anticipate that approximately ZERO of these will be used as a primary domain, thereby rendering the gtld just as useless as all of the others. No broker of sane mind would ever give up a valuable.com to use this.

Only members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) and The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) can use the .REALTOR domain
Members must use their first, last or full name in their domain name as it is in their NAR or CREA membership record
Either your full first or full last name must come directly before .REALTOR.”

Virtually zero resale options and no generic geographic options like NYC.REALTOR, Boston.REALTOR or LA.REALTOR or Miami.REALTOR – without adding a Fname or Lname = .LAME

REALTOR® Members – Individual Name (Phase I – October 23rd, 2014)
 May use a .REALTOR domain name in connection with their name as it appears in the record
used to verify membership.
 May include aliases and initials, but must include a full first or full last name directly before
.REALTOR.
 Common variations of first names will be available via word spinner.
 May include generic or geographic terms before the member’s name. Street addresses will not
be permitted.
 May include numbers before or after the name.
 May not use “REALTOR” at the secondary level (before the dot).

here are examples of allowed variations for .REALTOR with the link to the rules document below.